Independent institutions that check this jurisdiction's own power — audit, ombudsman, inspector general, civilian review, ethics, and grand-jury bodies established by statute.
The Wisconsin State Auditor heads the Legislative Audit Bureau and is appointed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The office conducts financial and program evaluation audits of state...
Read scorecard → 02 Inspector GeneralWis. Stat. §175.47 requires every Wisconsin law enforcement agency to adopt a written policy mandating that officer-involved deaths be investigated by an independent team of at least two...
Read scorecard → 03 Ethics CommissionThe Wisconsin Ethics Commission enforces ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance laws for state public officials and employees. Six members are appointed by the Governor from nominations by...
Read scorecard → 04 Civilian ReviewWis. Stat. §62.13 mandates an all-civilian, five-member Board of Police and Fire Commissioners in each Wisconsin city with a population of 4,000 or more. Members are appointed by the mayor for...
Read scorecard → 05 Civilian ReviewThe 15-member LESB (attached to the Wisconsin DOJ under §15.255) is the statewide POST-equivalent decertification authority for all law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, and juvenile...
Read scorecard →Wisconsin LE oversight rests on three main pillars. The Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB; Wis. Stat. §165.85, §15.255) is the statewide POST/decertification authority for all law enforcement, jail, and juvenile detention officers; its 15-member board mixes LE and public representatives and issues binding decertification orders. Wis. Stat. §175.47 mandates an independent multi-agency investigative team for every officer-involved death, with reports delivered to the county DA and publicly released if no prosecution follows; the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) frequently serves as that independent team. Wis. Stat. §62.13 requires each Wisconsin city to maintain an all-civilian Board of Police and Fire Commissioners with binding discipline authority, subpoena power, and mayor-appointed 5-year terms. No statewide independent corrections ombudsman or inspector general exists; county jail oversight is handled administratively by the DOC Office of Detention Facilities (§301.37), an internal department unit.